Comments on: The Bilenky, 300 miles later… http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/ Bike Your Drive! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:39:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-13456 Ghost Rider Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:47:02 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-13456 That's the same thing I discovered with Nexus...while I am a huge fan of internal gearing and the Nexus system in particular, I never felt like the gears I could choose from it were "just right". Sure, I could tinker with chainring or cog swaps, but that's still a bit of a gamble. I wish the Rohloff 14-speed "Speedhub" wasn't so expensive! That one's got even gearing in 13% steps...yum. That’s the same thing I discovered with Nexus…while I am a huge fan of internal gearing and the Nexus system in particular, I never felt like the gears I could choose from it were “just right”. Sure, I could tinker with chainring or cog swaps, but that’s still a bit of a gamble.

I wish the Rohloff 14-speed “Speedhub” wasn’t so expensive! That one’s got even gearing in 13% steps…yum.

]]> By: Adam Alpern http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-13452 Adam Alpern Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:28:18 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-13452 Let me add another point to the internal gear v. derailleur debate -- I have the Nexus 8 speed on my Kogswell Porteur, which, while it obviously has a much lower cargo capacity than the Bilenky, I still regularly load up with 20-50 lbs of stuff. I've got about 2,500 miles on it so far, almost entirely in San Francisco. The range of the 8-speed hub is fine - in fact, I rarely use the entire range, but range isn't really the issue for my riding. What I really, really want is closer gearing. It wouldn't be an issue if I lived in a flat place, like Chicago, or the Netherlands, but it seems I'm never in the right gear on hills - always either too low or too high, and my knees don't like the big jumps. For that reason, I might someday switch it to derailleur gearing. Let me add another point to the internal gear v. derailleur debate — I have the Nexus 8 speed on my Kogswell Porteur, which, while it obviously has a much lower cargo capacity than the Bilenky, I still regularly load up with 20-50 lbs of stuff.

I’ve got about 2,500 miles on it so far, almost entirely in San Francisco. The range of the 8-speed hub is fine – in fact, I rarely use the entire range, but range isn’t really the issue for my riding. What I really, really want is closer gearing. It wouldn’t be an issue if I lived in a flat place, like Chicago, or the Netherlands, but it seems I’m never in the right gear on hills – always either too low or too high, and my knees don’t like the big jumps.

For that reason, I might someday switch it to derailleur gearing.

]]> By: RussRoca http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-13152 RussRoca Sat, 31 May 2008 16:11:57 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-13152 Scott...for me, a dérailleur offers a greater gear range that is also more customizable by changing cassettes or chainrings. 8 speed internal hubs have a limited range...you can set up the gearing for the low end, but then you lose the top...or vise versa. I have seen 8speeds set up with a double chainring in the front to give a set of high and low gears...but at that point you could have purchased a derailleur system for much less. I think being able to shift while stopped is a nice feature but for me it's not a deal breaker. Furthermore, I've taken the Bilenky on loaded tours. To my knowledge, there is only one internally geared hub recommended for loaded touring..the Rolhoff which is $$$$. If I were to somehow jam the Nexus while on tour, I would have to build a new wheel.... http://www.russrocaphoto.com/gwbr2008/ Scott…for me, a dérailleur offers a greater gear range that is also more customizable by changing cassettes or chainrings. 8 speed internal hubs have a limited range…you can set up the gearing for the low end, but then you lose the top…or vise versa.

I have seen 8speeds set up with a double chainring in the front to give a set of high and low gears…but at that point you could have purchased a derailleur system for much less.

I think being able to shift while stopped is a nice feature but for me it’s not a deal breaker.

Furthermore, I’ve taken the Bilenky on loaded tours. To my knowledge, there is only one internally geared hub recommended for loaded touring..the Rolhoff which is $$$$. If I were to somehow jam the Nexus while on tour, I would have to build a new wheel….

http://www.russrocaphoto.com/gwbr2008/

]]> By: Scott Mizée http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-13151 Scott Mizée Sat, 31 May 2008 15:31:57 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-13151 Great article. Thanks for posting. I have not experienced riding one of these yet, although I have put hundreds of miles on a Bakfiets.nl cargo bike over the last couple of years. I'll have to find one here in Portland so I can experience it first hand. I am intrigued by the lower weight of the Bilenky. However, I'm not sure why your article instantly jumps to the conclusion that because the Bilenky can take a derailler it has superier gearing. Can you explain that a bit more please? Also, I just read Longjohnian's post above and I have to agree on several points. Being able to shit down to first gear while stopped at a light is priceless. Thanks again! Great article. Thanks for posting. I have not experienced riding one of these yet, although I have put hundreds of miles on a Bakfiets.nl cargo bike over the last couple of years. I’ll have to find one here in Portland so I can experience it first hand.

I am intrigued by the lower weight of the Bilenky. However, I’m not sure why your article instantly jumps to the conclusion that because the Bilenky can take a derailler it has superier gearing. Can you explain that a bit more please?

Also, I just read Longjohnian’s post above and I have to agree on several points. Being able to shit down to first gear while stopped at a light is priceless. Thanks again!

]]> By: Longjohnian http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-12657 Longjohnian Sun, 11 May 2008 12:39:25 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-12657 Comparing Bilenky and Long John is a little bit like oranges and apples. The (traditional) Long John was build to carry HEAVY loads. It has an extreme low center of gravity. It easily transports a washing machine. Or six crates of beer. The Long John was created in Denmark. Denmark has only few hills and no mountains. The same goes for the Netherlands. This is the reason why neither the Long John nor the Bakfiets Cargobike do have derailler gears. In their home countries you simply don´t need a lot of gears. A gear hub with three or five gears is absolutely sufficient, it doesn´t need service, and (very important) you can shift while standing at the traffic light. Very comfortable, especially with a 100kg load in front of you. There are Long Johns in Denmark which are over 60 years old and still in service. These are true workbikes! The Bilenky is a nice and worthy bike, no doubt. But it´s an entirely different league... Comparing Bilenky and Long John is a little bit like oranges and apples. The (traditional) Long John was build to carry HEAVY loads. It has an extreme low center of gravity. It easily transports a washing machine. Or six crates of beer.

The Long John was created in Denmark. Denmark has only few hills and no mountains. The same goes for the Netherlands.
This is the reason why neither the Long John nor the Bakfiets Cargobike do have derailler gears. In their home countries you simply don´t need a lot of gears. A gear hub with three or five gears is absolutely sufficient, it doesn´t need service, and (very important) you can shift while standing at the traffic light. Very comfortable, especially with a 100kg load in front of you.

There are Long Johns in Denmark which are over 60 years old and still in service. These are true workbikes!

The Bilenky is a nice and worthy bike, no doubt. But it´s an entirely different league…

]]> By: russ roca http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-12654 russ roca Sun, 11 May 2008 00:57:58 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-12654 Hmm...the Filibus looks cool...I think they share similar design elements but for me, I prefer the Bilenky. The one in the link looks like it would do well with moderate loads on a flat area....what's nice about the Bilenky is the boom tube is super thick and it uses a standard triangulated design which seems to resist flexing....it also has more gears, unlike the internal hub on the Filibus...don't get me wrong, nothing against internal gears, but those seem limiting...had I the $$$$ I would have thrown a Rolhoff on mine since it provides a pretty good gear range... Hmm…the Filibus looks cool…I think they share similar design elements but for me, I prefer the Bilenky. The one in the link looks like it would do well with moderate loads on a flat area….what’s nice about the Bilenky is the boom tube is super thick and it uses a standard triangulated design which seems to resist flexing….it also has more gears, unlike the internal hub on the Filibus…don’t get me wrong, nothing against internal gears, but those seem limiting…had I the $$$$ I would have thrown a Rolhoff on mine since it provides a pretty good gear range…

]]> By: Inktvlek http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-12652 Inktvlek Sat, 10 May 2008 09:57:44 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-12652 In terms of design, I like De Fietsfabriek Filibus better, it's (I'm guessing the Bilenky is from the Filibus family as well) http://www.fietsfabriek.nl/imagesbig/filibus.jpg In terms of design, I like De Fietsfabriek Filibus better, it’s (I’m guessing the Bilenky is from the Filibus family as well) http://www.fietsfabriek.nl/imagesbig/filibus.jpg

]]> By: VegHead http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-12631 VegHead Thu, 08 May 2008 21:01:26 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-12631 Looks like you may cause some accidents with this bike...from people turning their heads and saying, "WTF?" Looks like you may cause some accidents with this bike…from people turning their heads and saying, “WTF?”

]]> By: Johnny http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-12627 Johnny Thu, 08 May 2008 12:13:22 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-12627 "You feel like a ship’s captain. " :^) “You feel like a ship’s captain. ”
:^)

]]> By: russ roca http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/05/07/the-bilenky-300-miles-later/#comment-12622 russ roca Thu, 08 May 2008 02:13:04 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1014#comment-12622 Aidan...regarding the handlebars....I don't know if you have ever ridden a bike with 20 inch wheels in the front, but the handling is considerably livelier than something with 26in or 700c. I use to own a Bike Friday, and going back and forth between my bikes would screw me up sometimes since the 20 inch wheels on the Friday always seemed more sensitive...uh...I suppose leaning is the best way to steer...i don't know, I'm not a roadie and I didn't consciously try to lean my bikes to turn until now... The Bakfiets is designed to carry kids over relatively flat terrain. That is its core competency. The Bilenky is more of a cargo bike (non child), a cousin of the filibus bike and cycle truck. Could you put a kid on the Bilenky? Sure. Is that it's best use? Probably not. Can it carry a crapload of camera equipment everyday over distances of 20-50 miles (without the additional 45lbs of frame and box of the Bakfiets). You bet. I guess I should be more clear. The Bilenky like the Xtracycle and the Bakfiets have their particular strengths and uses. For my particular use, the Bilenky really excels. If my main cargo were kids and I lived in an area that was pretty flat, and I didn't mind the compact cockpit and I didn't mind the 8spd internal hub, then I'd go for the Bakfiets. Aidan…regarding the handlebars….I don’t know if you have ever ridden a bike with 20 inch wheels in the front, but the handling is considerably livelier than something with 26in or 700c. I use to own a Bike Friday, and going back and forth between my bikes would screw me up sometimes since the 20 inch wheels on the Friday always seemed more sensitive…uh…I suppose leaning is the best way to steer…i don’t know, I’m not a roadie and I didn’t consciously try to lean my bikes to turn until now…

The Bakfiets is designed to carry kids over relatively flat terrain. That is its core competency. The Bilenky is more of a cargo bike (non child), a cousin of the filibus bike and cycle truck.

Could you put a kid on the Bilenky? Sure. Is that it’s best use? Probably not. Can it carry a crapload of camera equipment everyday over distances of 20-50 miles (without the additional 45lbs of frame and box of the Bakfiets). You bet.

I guess I should be more clear. The Bilenky like the Xtracycle and the Bakfiets have their particular strengths and uses. For my particular use, the Bilenky really excels.

If my main cargo were kids and I lived in an area that was pretty flat, and I didn’t mind the compact cockpit and I didn’t mind the 8spd internal hub, then I’d go for the Bakfiets.

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